Tiago Silva: League bent rules to favour Sporting in postponement | OneFootball

Tiago Silva was relentless in his analysis of the postponement of the Sporting-Tondela match, from the 26th round, dismantling point by point what he considers to be yet another episode of preferential treatment for the Alvalade club — this time with the direct complicity of the League.

The CMTV commentator, on his social media, started by pointing the finger at those in the media space who «proclaim loudly that the postponement was a right that belonged to Sporting» because of the Champions League game the following Tuesday. For Tiago Silva, this view reveals «a gross ignorance of the regulations».

The commentator went into detail: «Article 44, no. 5, paragraph f), of the League's Competition Regulations only allowed the postponement if Sporting had played in Norway on Thursday and hosted Bodo/Glimt the following Tuesday. That was not the case.» Sporting played on Wednesday, which meant they could and should have faced Tondela the following Saturday, «whether at 8 pm, ensuring the 72 hours between the start of each game, or even earlier, as the regulation itself allows».

In Tiago Silva's view, the real reason for the postponement was different: «Sporting, already at the physical limit after three very demanding games, would have little time to prepare and recover. And that was not convenient. So the best thing was to find a way.» And he added, without hesitation: «The League knows this perfectly well, but instead of enforcing the regulations and defending the integrity of the competition, it decided to do Sporting a favor.»

The commentator also identified an additional problem that, by itself, should have prevented the postponement: «There was not even a guarantee that the game could be held within the maximum 30-day period», a mandatory condition for postponements in the second half outside the last six rounds, since there was the possibility — realized — of Sporting advancing in the Champions League. The result, according to Tiago Silva, is a «bizarre situation worthy of the third world»: if Sporting is eliminated by Arsenal, the game will take place on April 29, practically at the end of the championship; if they advance, «no one knows when the game will take place — not even the League itself».

To underline the double standards, Tiago Silva recalled the case of FC Porto in Arouca: «The League, because of the harvest fair, moved the game to Monday, refusing a request from FC Porto to postpone it, even knowing they would have a Europa League game the following Thursday and host Benfica three days later.»

The commentator also did not spare Benfica's management, openly questioning their silence: «What to say about Benfica's Management in light of all this? Does it still exist? Or is it satisfied with this state of affairs?» And he concluded with a reference to José Mourinho: «No wonder he is already fed up with Rui Costa's meekness.»

Tiago Silva's conclusion was a direct message to FC Porto fans: «It is for all this that FC Porto has to fight against everything and everyone. It is for all this that it would be an epic, extraordinary, and memorable achievement to reach the finish line first. And it is for all this that, if we get there, it will not just be a title — it will be the conquest of those who overcame all the traps set in our path.»

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.